Please note: The algorithm descriptions in English have been automatically translated. Errors may have been introduced in this process. For the original descriptions, go to the Dutch version of the Algorithm Register.

(Intelligent) Traffic control installation (I-VRI)

Intelligent traffic lights can detect various mobilities with sensing loops and push buttons and connect to in-car systems and navigation apps. To see traffic "coming" at an earlier stage and regulate it even smarter.

Last change on 8th of November 2024, at 13:26 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
Publication category
High-Risk AI-system
Impact assessment
DPIA
Status
In use

General information

Theme

  • Traffic
  • Space and Infrastructure

Begin date

Field not filled in.

Contact information

Voor vragen en opmerkingen kan je terecht bij: digitaalzuidholland@pzh.nl. Wil je bezwaar maken, dan kan je terecht bij de Juridische afdeling van dienst beheer organisatie. https://www.zuid-holland.nl/contact/

Link to publication website

https://www.crow.nl/ en https://www.talking-traffic.com/nl/

Link to source registration

https://www.zuid-holland.nl/politiek-bestuur/feiten-cijfers/algoritmeregister/algoritme-intelligente-verkeersregel-installatie/#h7739406e-26d7-4e4e-829b-c01f33f29380

Responsible use

Goal and impact

The deployment of iVRIs contributes to efficient traffic flow and accessibility at intersections in a safe and fair way (without people waiting for nothing and a logical sequence). It contributes to the province's mobility task. The deployment of traffic lights in hte general is necessary to efficiently perform the task as road manager of provincial roads.

The algorithm affects traffic participants (motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, trucks, public transport (OV), emergency and emergency services, etc) because it determines the colour of the traffic lights and how long each traffic participant has to wait. iVRIs can give a form of priority to traffic participants. For example, when an ambulance arrives urgently, but also to a group of cyclists or a column of trucks, for example. There are different forms of priority. Absolute priority (cutting off other directions), for example, is used for emergency and emergency services and conditioned priority (the traffic light tries to "regulate" towards a road user) in other cases. The province's priority framework and local circumstances determine the degree of priority for each road user.

Considerations

It is important, because of different interests, to consider when one group of road users has priority over another. This depends on economic reasons (freight traffic priority), the environment (residential area, business park, etc), desired modality (public transport and/or bicycle priority) or necessity (ambulance priority).

Human intervention

The algorithm makes real-time independent decisions. There is no "human in the loop" for these decisions. The decisions made by the algorithm do fall within criteria specified by humans (e.g.: What is the maximum time a traffic light can stay green)

Risk management

Traffic safety is controlled: For traffic lights in general, as soon as a traffic unsafe situation may arise (conflicting directions get green), the algorithm will abort and the traffic lights will start flashing. This is because in addition to the 'control algorithm' that controls the traffic lights, there is also a control algorithm. The abort is due to this separate safety-control algorithm. Apart from this, the general traffic rules also apply when the traffic lights are 'flashing'. Traffic safety is a basic design principle in traffic lights and the algorithms used.

Legal basis

Domain Execution is responsible for the smooth safe handling of road traffic

Elaboration on impact assessments

No direct personal data such as name and address details are stored or processed in an iVRI. The iVRI does receive anonymised position and priority messages from road users. These are used for traffic control but are not otherwise stored. They cannot be traced back to a natural person. The log data stored from a traffic control may contain indirect personal data. In combination with camera images, for example, it can be established whether a particular vehicle drove through a red light, for example. These indirect personal data are not provided to third parties. However, they can be requested by the police.

Impact assessment

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)

Operations

Data

The data used by the algorithm is the real-time data measured by the control system itself using detection loops and pushbuttons, among others. In addition, data is retrieved via national UDAP. These specific data flows (origins from mobiles and on-board computers) have been labelled as (potentially) person traceable data. All parties processing this data have signed a data processor agreement.


The core of iVRIs is the integration of various data sources. These include:

1. Sensors: These are placed at intersections and detect the presence and speed of vehicles.

2. Video cameras: They provide visual data and can be used for object recognition and tracking.

3. Connected vehicles: Modern vehicles often transmit data about their location and speed.

4. Mobile apps: Think of navigation apps that share real-time traffic information.

These data streams are collected and analysed in a central system, where decisions are made about traffic light cycles.

Technical design

The method and models have been established nationwide from the Talking Traffic project and are managed by the LVMB.

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